Well, not carrying a phone at all is not an option for most people these days I think Pulling over and answering the call is a very good idea.

Anyway, I only use hand free answering if I am driving - and there are only 2 numbers (caller ID and such) to which I will answer at all. All other calls I just let go to voice mail.I don't do any texting at all.

Again, Need a phone/don't need a phone at all stuff depends on a lot of things; and those things are so individually specific,I am not even going there.It's also not some kind of 'victory' to not need a phone, or to need one. Depending on perception, either (esp. someone who never needs/uses a phone and is unreachable by family or work places, and has no way for others to leave a message in an emergency) can be looked at as a negative these days.

But all that is clearly for a different topic.Let's stay on topic for now.

Hey, I get distracted talking on the phone at home when I try to do something more complex than feeding the cats. If I had a cell phone, I certainly wouldn't talk on it while driving. And I'm not sure hands-free is any better.

Officers who are breaking those rules should certainly be fined or worse.

I do find that often if a car is going too slow, seems unaware of surroundings, is weaving, the driver is holding a phone to their head. I have fussed at my wife, seeing how her driving degrades when she's on the phone.

When they made phone use while rolling illegal in certain parts where I drive, I installed a hands-free bluetooth radio, and it really does make a big difference for me. Even if I'm in a location where phone-in-hand is still legal, I hate it, as I can tell that it puts a blanket over my awareness, compared to the BT.

It took a friend of hers fussing at her for my wife to wonder if there was some legitimacy to my concerns about her rolling phone use. After her friend got on to her, she agreed to an aftermarket stereo for hands-free.

Hands-free sort of "separates" me from the phone. I can swivel my head, crane my neck, keep two hands on the wheel. the car gets priority instead of the chorus of movements required to spin head, phone, arm-holding phone, shoulder holding arm, twisting at the back while therefore leaning forward to twist. It becomes no different than talking with a passenger. the only difference there is, if I'm about to have to do a complex merge or something, I have to say "hold on", whereas a live passenger would see it and just be quiet.

As for officers that also break the rules. We can't say, "i'm not going to do it because they don't do it either." It's not about that. It's about public safety. Do what is RIGHT for you, and don't base your own bad habits on other people around you. I've experienced good officers and unprofessional ones alike, just like you have good students and bad, good [insert religion here] and bad. They have little bearing on how I try to conduct myself.

I hope you guys didn't scare off the OP with your remarks. I thought we would hear something back from him by now. Only 5 pages later.

Thanks for all the replies. I have thick skin so not to worry about some negativity.

I just wanted to reiterate that the incident that I relayed to you involves a cell phone law that is enforced in my jurisdiction. This law may not apply to all.

Currently, in Ontario, police are allowed to talk on cell phones while driving as long as they are in lawful execution of their duty.

My patrol car is equipped with a mobile data terminal and GPS and yes at times my job requires me to read the screen while driving. However, if in doing so, I cause a wreck then I am inherently responsible. Everything I do is tracked.

AS one poster mentioned if I asked the driver what oil they had in their vehicle, I'm sorry to say no. But being that it was a Ford Escape, I'm hoping it was Motorcraft.

The city of Chicago is so crime ridden that you will never get pulled over for talking on a cell. Expect for Lake Shore Drive and the Skyway to IN, I don't think officers even make traffic stops anymore.

This whole thread is proof that we have lost the battle against distracted driving. First, many people immediately upbraid the police for using phones during their work (which was not the original topic, and just indicates that they can do anything that certain police officers do). Second, the excuses flow like water about what calls are important to be taken (little Johnny will be left at someone's house if Mommy doesn't take the critically important call).

Another series of signs that 85% of drivers consider themselves better than average, and that the individual's rights continue to trump the good for the masses.

Ugh.

I won't say anything about the police violating cell phone laws (though I have seen it myself) as that isn't what this thread is about, but you are right in saying we've lost the battle of distracted driving. This thread is full of excuses and weak arguments in favor of doing nothing about the use of cell phones while driving, or simply lumping it in with all other types of distracted driving. They try to justify it by saying things like adjusting the radio, eating, talking to other people in the vehicle, etc., are just as distracting...well, studies have shown that cell phone use while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving...I doubt the same can be said for the other distractions...